Toyota's Jarno Trulli faces a fight to be fit for the start of the Formula One season this weekend after cancelling a stopover in Japan on Monday.

Toyota officials said the Italian did not attend a Tokyo news conference ahead of Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix because of a high fever.

However, team boss Tsutomu Tomita played down the absence while team manager Richard Cregan later dismissed any health concerns.

"Jarno just has a cold. We allowed him to not participate in the event in Japan but he will be in Australia," Cregan said in a statement.

Toyota officials said Trulli had been advised by his doctor to go direct to Melbourne.

Team mate Ralf Schumacher produced Toyota's only podium finish of 2006 with third place in the third round of the season in Australia.

Toyota's form last year was a huge disappointment after Trulli's two second places in 2005 helped the Japanese car giant to finish fourth in the constructors' championship.